January 27, 2016 — The FDA has received over 150 reports of patients who developed metabolic acidosis (too much acid in the body) after taking the diabetes drug Invokana.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) QuarterWatch (PDF) report monitors FDA MedWatch adverse event reports. In the last 12 months, doctors wrote over 1.1 million prescriptions for Invokana. The FDA received nearly 5,500 adverse event reports, including 168 possible cases of metabolic acidosis.
During that same time, newer drugs in the same class as Invokana were also linked to acidosis. Farxiga (dapagliflozin) was linked to 80 reports and Jardiance (empagliflozin) was linked to 12 reports of acidosis. In December 2015, the FDA warned that it had received 73 reports of ketoacidosis in patients on these medications between March 2013 and May 2015.
The FDA also warned about the risk of life-threatening urinary tract infections that spread to the kidneys or bloodstream. According to the ISMP, the most commonly-reported adverse event was genital fungal infections — not surprising, given that increased glucose (sugar) in urine creates a favorable environment for infections.
The ISMP warned about a lack of long-term safety data. However, there is growing concern about diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition in which uncontrolled diabetes causes a shortage of insulin. This forces the body to start breaking down fat, which releases toxic acids called ketones.
Do I have an Invokana Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Invokana induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with metabolic acidosis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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